weird question

[gaya]

How do all of you, especially the people with the really huge tanks (and lots of smaller ones) have the time to take care of everything? No doubt I am addicted but my three tanks take up so much of my time. I can't imagine dealing with ick in a 150-300g planted tank...and weekly water changes? I'm always peering (sp?) in all of them making sure everyone is doing ok. plus this hobby is so expensive! please tell me your secrect in taking care of your babies and still living life (working, school, family, ect).

gina

 

[canarsie11]

My python makes my water changes very easy, 2 times a week for me.

But I guess if you love it, you find the time.

 

[gaya]

today I just felt kind of guilty because I have been blowing off my husband either because I'm doing something with the tanks, or someone looks funny, or I'm on the web at the wee hours in the morning trying to learn more

How does the python work?

 

[canarsie11]

Uses water pressure to take water out and put it back in.

Comes with adapter to hook up to the faucet, and has gravel vacuum on the end.

I do 2 30% water changes a week on both my tanks, I say it takes me 12 minutes for both tanks, 15 to 20 when I do my vacuum on the gravel.

Thats time for both tanks together, not each.

 

[gaya]

wow that's quick! when the water is going back in from the tap how do you dechlorinate it?

 

[canarsie11]

Dechlorinator works instantly, what I do is add it to the tank. 15 seconds later I begin to add water.

 

[gaya]

ohh, ok.

I've been running my tap water through this deionizer (sp?) thing because it tests high for nitrates and it also tests positive for ammonia, why I don't know.

this thing takes quite a while to pump water through, about 2 buckets/hour

i keep messing up this post!

 

[canarsie11]

ohh, ok.

I've been running my tap water through this deionizer (sp?) thing because it tests high for nitrates and it also tests positive for ammonia, why I don't know.

this thing takes quite a while to pump water through, about 2 buckets/hour

i keep messing up this post!

Aqua safe would take care of ammonia, dont know about nitrate!

Where are you?

 

[gaya]

I'm in cambrigde, ma. I don't know what's in the water out here. I'm thinking that it may not be nitrates or ammonia in the water at all but some other chemical that the tests will react to. can't take the chance though. sooo, it takes so long to do water changes. i gotta figure something else out.

 

[canarsie11]

How long have you had your tanks?

 

[noop]

2 buckets per hour?

nightmare

i just use a regular siphon, a bucket and stresscoat to dechlorinate

takes me maybe 20-30 mins to do a water change & quick gravel clean, for my 30 US gallon tank

 

[canarsie11]

2 buckets per hour?

Thats what I said, I could not handle that.

 

[gaya]

i have had them since june. one 10g was already established for two years when I got it. it took one week for me to become totally addicted and got the other 10g and 29g. the guy i bought it from only live about five minutes away and his water did not test for nitrates or ammonia. it drives me crazy! but i do love my fish. hmmm.

 

[canarsie11]

Here may be your problem....... I was hoping you said you had them recently. Usually, when people say thier tap water has nitrates, it is because tap water has more nitrates in it during the summer.

Because of the heat, more chemicals are used to maintain bacteria, usually sending nitrates up. And seing that you said that guy never had nitrates in his water and he is 5 minutes away, that may be it.

I bet as temp drops going into the fall, nitrates will disappear from your tap water test results!

 

[gaya]

that would be so great! I work p/t and with classes starting next week I've been nervous about where I would find the time.